Latest news: December 8, 2011

“WASHINGTON — Gulf Coast lawmakers, business leaders and local officials pressed a congressional committee Wednesday for approval of a bill that could send billions of dollars in oil spill fines to the Gulf states, but met tough questions from critics of the proposal…”

“WASHINGTON — Two influential House Republicans raised concerns Wednesday about legislation to direct 80 percent of Clean Water Act fines from the BP oil spill to the five Gulf Coast states, suggesting passage won’t come without a fight. Despite the sharp questioning, Louisiana lawmakers expressed optimism that the “Restore Act” will eventually win enactment…”

“WASHINGTON – The federal government on Wednesday issued a second set of citations against BP that accused the oil company of violating safety and environmental regulations while drilling the Macondo well that blew out last year in the Gulf of Mexico…”

“A Thibodaux coastal-advocacy group is hoping to rebuild a cluster of small islands in Barataria Bay that provide vital nesting habitat for thousands of Louisiana birds with the help of a $1 million donation…”

“As I write this, I am traveling on a bus to New York to speak at a screening of The Big Fix, Josh and Rebecca Tickell’s powerful documentary about the explosion of BP’s Deepwater Horizon rig that spewed nearly 200 million gallons of Louisiana crude along the coastlines and marshes of four Gulf states, changing the lives of millions…”

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